Mysterious powers are at work, which force Idomeneo to admit his guilt and abdicate in favour of his son. The King of Crete is pu ...

Mysterious powers are at work, which force Idomeneo to admit his guilt and abdicate in favour of his son. The King of Crete is pursued on his voyage home from Troy. The curse of ten years of war weigh heavily upon him. Caught up in a storm at sea he took a terrible vow in return for his life being spared. He must sacrifice the first person he meets on land – which turns out to be his son, Idamante. Idomeneo tries everything to avoid having to keep his promise but only bringing catastrophe on himself and his people. In the end his son offers himself as a sacrifice but it is Ilia’s love for Idamante, and Idomeneo agreeing to hand his throne over to his son, that appease the god. When Mozart composed the opera in the summer of 1780 he was influenced by many styles, contemporaries and a desire to write another opera seria, a stipulation from the court in Munich. Idomeneo marked a turning point in Mozart’s music: the framework was preserved but, internally, opera seria’s rigid structure was broken completely. This may not be Mozart’s most popular opera but it is certainly his »wildest«.

Synopsis

King Idomeneo, returning from the Trojan War to his island Crete, is eagerly awaited by his son Idamante, the Mykenian King's daug ...

King Idomeneo, returning from the Trojan War to his island Crete, is eagerly awaited by his son Idamante, the Mykenian King's daughter Elektra and his subjects, and, less eagerly, the Trojan King's daughter Ilia. The curse of ten years of war weighs heavily upon him. His life is spared in a terrible storm at sea by Neptune, but only on condition that Idomeneo sacrifice the first person he meets on land, which turns out to be his son. The King puts his own people in danger in trying to avoid carrying out his side of the bargain. When his son finds about the oath his father has taken he offers himself as sacrifice. When Ilia says that she wants to take his place the God is appeased, as long as Idomeneo hand power over to his son.

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